My little man Austyn James it is so hard to believe you'd be turning 13 years old today. I know your in heaven celebrating your special day! There isn't a day that goes by that I do not think about you, your always near my thoughts and in my heart. For it was you who had came crashing into my world and made it so much brighter!

Even though you were only here a short while 9 short days you have touched my life in more ways then one, and the day you were born and they asked if I wanted to see you before they took you off to the nicu I said yes, they brought you over next to my bed and I reached down for you without a second thought you reached up and grabbed my pinky mommy will always remember that special moment we had together. I love you my little angel Austyn. I know I can't bring you back again but one day when my time is up we will indeed see each other again.

Your brother Landyn will be turning 7 years old this year he is growing up so fast. I love you both so very much! I will close for now but know your always and forever in my heart. Love your mommy forever Candi L Bock.

Below are some pictures of Landyn growing up and also some family pictures to share...

This special birthday gift for Angel Austyn is from my friend Marie. You can visit her website for her son Rob here ~Rob Northrop's Site.

my dear Austyn, It has been thirteen years since u were taken away from me and your mom. it has been hard not having u here. Me and your mom are not together any more but we both still love u very much. I have met a new lady, she is awesome, her name is kassandra. she has a little girl named payton, and me and your step mom are going to have another baby, just like me and your mom did almost five years ago. his name is Landyn. u would get along with him. he goes sees u at the cemetery every weekend that he comes up here and also wants to see his uncle david. austyn, I miss u so much. everyday I think about u and wonder how u would look now. I remember holding u and thinking that my baby boy and u were going to be loved so much when u get to heaven... well, austyn, I am going to let u go, I love u and miss u so much! happy 13th birthday, and tell uncle David that I love and miss him so much too.

I love u, your dad, frank

austyn

Angel austyn, how are you doing up there in heaven? I know that you don't know me very well, but like my brother I have wrote to you. I am your big sister, Minnie, and there is also your going to be brother in law, andrew. One day you will finally meet me and Andrew..Austyn, I love you my little brother and even though I have never seen you, I still miss u and think about you everyday. I hope some day you will know more about me and your niece avrie. I love u. daddy and your mommy loves and misses u more than any thing in the world, but everything happens for a reason, even though sometimes you do not understand, and why those things happen. Some day you will meet me and Andrew and also your brother Frankie. Your my little brother and I love you more than anything. well, little brother ,I am going to let you go back to having fun in heaven with your uncle david. I love you and miss you!

Minnie

They Say Love is Blind

They say love is blind and you made this true.
I never got to place you in a outfit either pink or blue.
Never rocked you in my arms as you quietly slept.
Not one tear did I get to dry as you sadly wept.

I loved you none the less with all of my heart.
My world crashing down when we were torn apart.
I dream of you wrapped in a blanket of a white angel wing.
The lullaby you hear is the comfort I wanted to bring.

I still hold you everyday the only way I know how.
God doesn't take my love for you this much he does allow.
It is as stong as it would have been if I would have seen you.
After my journey in life is done I will carry my love through.

It will carry me straight to you, you will never be hard to find.
We will be together and I will hold the love that was blind.
Looking into eyes that are mine that show a soul I made.
I will place you upon my chest where you always should have laid.

They say love is blind and you made this come true.
I will place you in an outfit either pink or blue.
I will rock you in my arms as you quietly sleep.
I will dry your tears as you happily weep.

dear austyn

Your mom and dad talk about you so much. I wish I could have met you, but I was not around when you came into this world. As you may be up in heaven looking down upon us and making sure nothing happens to any of your family. I would like you to know that I am helping you do that as well. And I would also like you to know my cousin Reece is up there to help take care of you and play with you, as you two are the same age. So I hope you guys are having fun and also being good until we get up there with all of you. Well, I am happy to write to you, and I hope you and Reece behave up there too. happy birthday, Austyn, you are growing into such a handsome young man. Happy 13th birthday Austyn, we all love and miss you so much.

Goodbye for now
Love your step mom
Kassandra Renee

Dear Austyn

I love you little brother. it's hard seeing your picture every day and not actually seeing you. We all miss you and wish you were here. I'll see you some day. Hopefully not too soon. I love you little brother. tell uncle david I miss him

Love your big Brother
Frankie

Dear austyn

Hi, this is your brother Andrew. I know you don't know me, but I miss you, my little brother, a lot. I wish you were alive so we can hang out, and so I can see you. My dad and grandparents are also up there to watch over you. RIP austyn. I love you, and I will see you someday. Happy 13th birthday, Austyn!

Love your Big Brother
Andrew

I try
by Micheline Dudley

I am a teen and very loud who loves to listen to music and read
I wonder about my little brother who's birthday was yesterday
I hear my mom and dad cry about austyn death
I see my little brother in my room
I want to see Austyn's face
I am a teen and very loud who loves to listen to music and read
I pretend Austyn is near
I feal sad becouse my little brother is dead
I touch my brother grave stone
I worry about my mom and dad
I cry myself to sleep when i think about Austyn
I am a teenage girl and very loud who loves to listen to music and read
I understand my dad's pain he lost a kid
I lost my nana
I dream about Austyn
I try not to worry about Austyn's death
I try not to cry about Austyn's death
I hope my mom and dad do not split up
I am a teen and very loud who loves to read and listen to music

All of our family wants to wish you a very happy birthday, Our Precious Austyn. You will see their pictures below. Some of these people even got the chance to hold you, so we will make sure to include those pictures as well.

Uncle Jimmy and you.

Aunt Allie and you.

It was a bright and beautiful day in heaven,
the streets were strewn with beautiful flowers of every kind imaginable
Angels were talking in excited tones and laughter rang from all around!
Halos were polished to a gleam, Wings were wide and full,
Each angel carried a candle that was lit!
They lined up in rows two by two, it was going to be a wonderful celebration.

Every one was ready the parade was about to begin!
An Angel who was in line and ready to go, glanced over to the park,
And saw a the tinniest angel sitting alone, his halo was not polished and wings were not unfurled!
And his candle was by his side unlit.
Tears were coursing down his tiny face!

The Angel walked to this tiny little angel and spoke to him:
Why are you not joining in the parade,
the little one looked up at the other Angel, and spoke:
I would dearly love to join in the celebration,
but each time I get my halo just right and my wings spread out and my candle lit!
My mommy and daddy's tears put out the flame, because they miss me so very much.

The other angel understood the tiny one all to well,
he gathered the tiny one in his arms and picked up his halo and candle
put each of them in their proper place!
and he told the tiny angel it will be OK

For today is going to be a celebration of love and welcome,
and I want you to say a prayer for your mommy and daddy.
And because today is a special day
I know they will hear your prayer and find comfort in knowing that you are gone from their arms, but never their hearts.

The tiny angel began to pray
Dear Mommy and Daddy, I am thinking of you today,
and I miss you very much,
we are having a wonderful celebration today!
And I would like very much to join in.
But every time I lite my candle your tears put out the flame
and I cannot join in with all the others today, knowing how sad you are without me,
but weep no more mommy and daddy
I am no longer in pain,
and I am here with so many who will look after me until you are here to do it

I miss you so very much!
And even though you cannot see me or touch me or feel me,
I am with you forever in your hearts!
so weep no more and know we will be together again and what a celebration that will be ~ Author unknown

Memere and Pepere

Uncle David, Cousin Gordy, Cousin Gavin

I'm Free

Don't grieve for me, for now I'm free.
I'm following the path God laid for me.
I took God's hand when I heard the call;
I turned my back and left it all.

I could not stay another day to laugh,
to love, to work or play.
Tasks left undone must stay that way.
I found that place at the close of day.

If my parting has left a void,
then fill it with remembered joy.
A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss.
Ah yes, these things, I too, will miss.

Be not burdened with times of sorrow,
I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow.
My life's been full, I savored much,
good friends, good times, a loved one's touch

Perhaps my time seemed all to brief;
don't lengthen it now with undue grief.
Lift up your heart and share with me - God wanted me now, God set me free.~ Author Unknown

This is Cassie, wishing Austyn a Happy Thirteenth Birthday!

And Uncle Gabe, Aunt Laura, Cousin Alex

Cousin Liz, Cousin Alex, Great-cousin Jonha

Cousin Frannie wants to say Happy Birthday to Austyn also!

Cousin Frannie and you.

Once upon a dream, I looked out among the stars
And watched a scene of Angels playing their guitars
It's for you and me and anyone who needs to know
There is a Heaven, a better place not far away...to go~ Author unknown

Grannie and you.

Uncle Jimmy and Aunt Frannie

Aunt Sara and even her puppy want to wish Austyn a Happy Birthday!

We Do Not Need A Special Day

We do not need a special day
To bring you to our minds
The days we do not think of you
Are very hard to find

Each morning when we awake
We know that you are gone
And no one knows the heartache
As we try to carry on

Our hearts still ache with sadness
And secret tears still flow
What it meant to lose you
No one will ever know

Our thoughts are always with you
Your place no one can fill
In life we loved you dearly
In death we love you still

There will always be a heartache
And often a silent tear
But always a precious memory
Of the days when you were here

If tears could build a staircase
And heartaches make a lane
We'd walk the path to Heaven
And bring you home again

We hold you close, within our hearts
And there you will remain
To walk with us throughout our lives
Until we meet again

Our family chain is broken now
And nothing seems the same
But as God calls us one by one
The chain will link again.
Written by Connie Dyer

Here is Joshua wishing Austyn a Happy Birthday!

Grannie and Gie say Happy Birthday to Austyn as well!

Here we are, the people that love you and miss you so very much, Our Precious Austyn.

We never know our fate in life
From the moment of our birth
We know not the roads we'll travel
While walking upon this earth.

The Tears we'll cry the pain we'll bear
is kept unknown to us
we wake each day to face the world
living in faith and trust

Our shattered dreams, our adversities.
things beyond our own control
can wear us down form day to day
The worries can take their toll

If we are given just one chance
to see what our future holds
would it weaken us beyond belief
or make us strong and bold?

But which among us could deny
if we knew what lies in store
that we would be willing to accept
and to ask for one more day.
Poem written by BTatum263@aol.com

This image and the poem above are gifts to Angel Austyn from my dear friend, Pammi.